Statius: Silvae Book II (Paperback)

Statius

ISBN 10: 0521666236 / ISBN 13: 9780521666237

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2011

About this Item

Paperback. With the exception of a poem on the unscripted death of a lion in the Colosseum, Book II of Statius' Silvae is largely domestic in theme. It reflects the more private side of Roman culture, its pleasures, houses, gardens, friendships, and personal losses; it concludes with a provocative tribute to the poet Lucan. Despite its variety, the book is carefully constructed as a unit, and this edition, which is suitable for use with advanced students, puts the book into its context in the history of Greek and Roman poetry. The commentary takes into account the important work done on the text of the Silvae in the past two decades as well as the new perspectives brought to bear on Flavian culture by historians and archaeologists. It explores Statius' use of the short poem as a playful engagement with literary tradition that also reflects changing ideas of Roman cultural identity. Introduction and commentary designed for advanced students. Written for the most part after the success of the Thebaid, the Silvae present a dialogue between the life of court politics and that of cultured withdrawal, delicately and allusively exploring the competing values of courtly service and private life. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780521666237

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Statius: Silvae Book II (Paperback)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521666236
• ISBN 13: 9780521666237
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

With the exception of a poem on the unscripted death of a lion in the Colosseum, Book II of Statius' Silvae is largely domestic in theme. It reflects the more private side of Roman culture, its pleasures, houses, gardens, friendships, and personal losses; it concludes with a provocative tribute to the poet Lucan. Despite its variety, the book is carefully constructed as a unit, and this edition, which is suitable for use with advanced students, puts the book into its context in the history of Greek and Roman poetry. The commentary takes into account the important work done on the text of the Silvae in the past two decades as well as the new perspectives brought to bear on Flavian culture by historians and archaeologists. It explores Statius' use of the short poem as a playful engagement with literary tradition that also reflects changing ideas of Roman cultural identity.

About the Author

Publius Papinius Statius (c.45–c.96 AD) was a Roman poet of the 1st century AD, born in Naples. As a poet, Statius was versatile in his abilities and his work includes an epic poem, the Thebaid, a collection of occasional poetry, the Silvae, and the unfinished epic, the Achilleid.